Windows Genuine Advantage Notification (KB905474)

  • Thread starter Thread starter QuickHare
  • Start date Start date
Q

QuickHare

Hi.

I have the option of installing this piece of software through Windows Update.
However, I am worried about installing the software. My version of Windows is
legitimate, so I have no problem with it scanning my computer to validate it,
but what I'm fearful of is that it will try to contact Microsoft on each log in
to the computer, which is what is suggested in the articles provided by
Microsoft.

Has anyone had any problem with this, or had Windows asking for connection to
the Internet during log-on?
 
The new WGA update corrects some issues. It is safe to install.

Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/FAQ.aspx?displaylang=en

Microsoft Genuine Advantage Privacy Statement
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/downloads/PrivacyInfo.aspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­----------------

:

| Hi.
|
| I have the option of installing this piece of software through Windows Update.
| However, I am worried about installing the software. My version of Windows is
| legitimate, so I have no problem with it scanning my computer to validate it,
| but what I'm fearful of is that it will try to contact Microsoft on each log in
| to the computer, which is what is suggested in the articles provided by
| Microsoft.
|
| Has anyone had any problem with this, or had Windows asking for connection to
| the Internet during log-on?
|
| --
|
| QuickHare
 
Thanks for that reply. I have read both articles previously. The main worry is
when it contacts the server. Is this each time I use Windows Update (WU) or
Automatic Updates (AU), or each time I log in? And at what point is this data
sent?
 
You need WGA itself if you want to get automatic updates. However, there is
no need whatsoever for the notification component, which has been classed as
spyware by some testers. Once the notification component is on your computer
it's intentionally hard to remove, too.

At work we don't use automatic updates, a decision which I initially had
some reservations about, but which think has been thouroughly vindicated by
this. All the OS copies are licensed but they were installed from images,
which means the notifyer would probably false-trigger if it got onto them.
 
Update to the WGA Notifications program introduces changes based on customer feedback:
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/jun06/06-27WGA.mspx

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­----------------

:

| Thanks for that reply. I have read both articles previously. The main worry is
| when it contacts the server. Is this each time I use Windows Update (WU) or
| Automatic Updates (AU), or each time I log in? And at what point is this data
| sent?
|
| --
|
| QuickHare
 
I am in agreement with Vanguard on most of his issues. If my copy of Windows is
validated and given the all clear when I connect to Windows Update, then I do
not require the WPA software, surely? I do not let Automatic Updates run as I
scan Windows Update regularly.

Therefore, will I be able to simply Ignore this update and forget about it, or
will Microsoft force me to install it?

In other words, do I really get an opt-out in the long term?
 
Therefore, will I be able to simply Ignore this update and forget about it, or
will Microsoft force me to install it?

In other words, do I really get an opt-out in the long term?
Click to expand...


Nobody can force you to install anything. The WGA is still optional and
you don't need it. What happens in the loger term is still not known
but the courts might intervene to stop MS from using its dominant
position to vandalize people's machines.

hth
 
You notice on the provided link how MS always provides links to everything
they discuss in the article, but for some reason on this particular one,
they failed to provide a link to the most important portion of the
article... How to remove the POS WGA Notifications. They chose only to
give you the KB article number and expect you to find the thing yourself...
Goes to show you how much they really want you to remove it...

Here's the link in case anybody wanted it, "How to remove WGA Notifications"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/921914/en-us

I like the procedure too. Definitely not something that anybody without a
fair amount of computer experience can do on their own... Registry changes,
deleting entries from it, etc. Yup, make it as hard and "dangerous" as
possible. Why wouldn't they, if you remove it they can't spy on you any
more!
 
This is for the pilot version, which has now ended. Microsoft is willing for
this version to be removed, but not for the new version for it to be
uninstalled. I don't know how it gets so far in that it cannot be removed, but I
think I will be giving this a miss until Microsoft tells me I must install it.
In which case, I hope the court hearings have ended by then.
 
Hello If my case is anything to go by, do not install it . I also have a
legitimate version , It was already installed on my brand new computer
december , that I bought for my 11 year old Daughter. I have now got 2167
files not digitally signed, How on earth can this be justified, Its taken
down my printer , webcam and numerous other things its telling me that the
drivers for these are not digitally signed. I am a normal user, nobody seems
to want to help you on this issue , once you have it , It seems to be a very
touchy subject . Will anybody help us? Do not install
 
Don't do it.

Since the WGA Windows Update wouldn't go away, I went

ahead and allowed it to download. The result: the following morning,

the system wouldn't boot. I get a screen saying the hard

drive is bad: "Ultra DMA Mode-5, S.M.A.R.T. Capable and Status

BAD" And when I try to reboot in Safe Mode:

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME *** STOP: 0x000000ED (0x822B368,

0xC000014F, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

Of course, it could be a coincidence that the hard drive went bad at the
same time WGA was downloaded to it, but highly unlikely.

By the way, my copy of XP SP2 is legal and came installed with the HP
machine.

I've wasted hours trying to find out what's going on with the system.
 
Most likely you have it exactly backwards.
If you were searching based on the assumption WGA damaged the hard drive,
you did waste time since that cause and effect is extremely unlikely.
If your hard drive went bad it is highly unlikely to be related to WGA.
There may be problems with WGA, but blaming everything else especially
unrelated issues accomplishes nothing.
It is more likely the hard drive already had problems and corrupted data
including Windows causing your WGA issues.
But the real cause in your case will probably be unknown since there is a
hard drive failure.

Have you in fact verified the drive is bad?
Many things including loose or improper IDE cables have been known to cause
that issue and are resolved without a hard drive replacement.
 
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